Innovative Policies

Many of the issues that the Ecology Center work on go beyond the scope of individual’s choices and into the realm of policy. By tackling these issues at the policy level, we are not only able to provide individuals with more and better healthy choices, but we’re able to ensure that companies operate at a higher standard.

Everything we do is in pursuit of healthier people and a healthier planet.

News

The Detroit trash incinerator, one of the largest in the world, is a prime example of environmental racism. Here is a facility that pumps out carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, and particulate matter daily, and has violated the Clean Air Act 379 times since 2015.

In early June, the Ann Arbor City Council concluded an 8-month-long bid process by unanimously approving a contract with Recycle Ann Arbor to process the City’s recyclables. RAA’s proposal offered high recovery rates, low environmental impacts, low price, and high performance.

In December, after years of debate, the Michigan Legislature passed legislation (PA 341 & 342) that increased our renewable energy standard to 15% by 2021 and maintained Michigan’s energy efficiency standard at 1% per year sun-setting in 2021.

Earlier this month Dr. Nancy Beck, a former advocate for the American Chemistry Council, was appointed as the new Deputy Administrator of EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. This is a major conflict of interest.

The Trump Administration threatens environmental & public health. In 100 days, a proposed 33% cut to EPA’s budget, plans to roll back emission regulations along with massive deregulation, and eliminated science panels, mean that we just can’t continue business as usual.

Ever since November 8, we've been expecting Donald Trump to initiate a "repeal and replace" of President Obama's climate policies, and it all just came to a head. On March 28, in true Orwellian fashion, President Trump went to EPA headquarters to announce the Executive Order.